Page:Divine shepherd, or, The good minister's care over the flock of Jesus Christ.pdf/9

 them, which thou thyſelf will not practice ; and by binding heavy burdens, and grievous to be born, and laying them on their ſhoulders, but thou thyſelf will not move them with one of thy fingers, Matt xxiii.

Fifthly, The Scripture tells of others, who though they are neither ignorant nor idle, covetous, nor voluptuous; yet, they are proud, they love the praiſe of men, more than the praiſe of God; they love to be called Rabbi, they love the uppermoſt rooms at feaſts, and the chief ſeats in ſynagogues, and greetings in the markets. They learn ſuch a poor place as Nazarath of Galilee; they muſt needs beat Jeruſalem, and preach at court, where they may be ſeen of men. They think it below them to feed God's lambs, to catechiſe little children, to conceal their learning, and to ſpeak so plain, that the moſt ignorant men and women may understand and profit by them. They think that preaching the law, which is to convince men of ſin, and humble them for it, can never work upon gentlemen, who only to be wrought by eaſier and gentler methods. that is, in plain Engliſh by ſmooth and flattering words. They think that preaching of election, vocation, justification, adoption and ſanctification, is nothing elſe but ſo much ſpiritual cant. And indeed, they think no preaching is good for any thing, but that which is really good for nothing: That which is high and lofty, quaint and witty, ſcholastic or controverſial, and above the reach of ordinary capacities. And therefore our Saviour makes it a great miracle, and as certain a ſign of the true Meſias that the poor had the Goſpel preached unto them, as that the blind ſaw, the lame walked the deaf heard, the lepers were cleanſed, and the dead were raiſed up from death to life, Matt. xi 5. And if poor ignorant people ſuch proud miniſter, what they not, without a miracle, neceſſarily periſh for want of knowledge? For, if an archer does always ſhoot above the mark, can he ever hit it? And if a minister does always preach above the capacity of his learers, can he ever teach them knowledge? Is it not all one, as if he had ſpoke to